Bombardier 4635 225497550 2008-07-14T00:31:14Z Raryel 3440781 /* Aerospace */ {{otheruses|Bombardier (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox_Company | company_name = Bombardier Inc. | company_logo = [[Image:Bombardier.svg|center|225px|]] | company_type = [[Public company|Public]]: ({{tsx|BBD.B}} {{tsx|BBD.A}}) | foundation = [[Valcourt, Quebec]] (1942) | location = [[Montreal|Montreal, Quebec]], [[Canada]] | key_people = [[Joseph-Armand Bombardier]], founder | industry = [[Aerospace engineering|Aerospace]] / [[Railway]]s | products = [[Aircraft]], [[train]]s, [[tram]]s | revenue = $17.5 billion [[United States Dollar|USD]] (2008) | num_employees = 59,760 (2008) | homepage = http://www.bombardier.com/ }} '''Bombardier Inc.''' ({{IPA2|bɔ̃baʁdje}}) is a [[Canadian companies|Canadian]] [[list of conglomerates|conglomerate]], founded by [[Joseph-Armand Bombardier]] as '''L'Auto-Neige Bombardier Limitée''' in 1942, at [[Valcourt]] in the [[Eastern Townships]], [[Quebec]]. Over the years it has been a large manufacturer of regional aircraft, [[business jets]], [[mass transportation]] equipment, recreational equipment and a financial services provider. Bombardier is a [[Fortune Global 500]] [[list of conglomerates|conglomerate]] company.<ref>[http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/global500/2007/snapshots/6659.html Fortune Global 500 - Bombardier Inc. Company Snapshot 2007]</ref> Its headquarters are in [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]], [[Canada]]. ==Corporate governance== Current members of the [[board of directors]] of Bombardier Inc. are: * [[Laurent Beaudoin]]; * [[Pierre Beaudoin]]; * [[André Berard]]; * [[J.R. André Bombardier]]; * [[Janine Bombardier]]; * [[L. Denis Desautels]]; * [[Jean-Louis Fontaine]]; * [[Jane F. Garvey]]; * [[Daniel Johnson, Jr.]]; * [[Jean C. Monty]]; * [[André Navarri]]; * [[Carlos E. Represas]]; * [[Jean-Pierre Rosso]]; * [[Federico Sada G.]]; * [[Heinrich Weiss]]. ==History== [[Image:Bombardier (PSF).jpg|thumb|]] [[Joseph-Armand Bombardier]] was a mechanic who dreamt of building a vehicle that could "float on snow." In 1937, he designed and produced his first [[snowmobile]] in his small repair shop in [[Valcourt, Quebec]]. Bombardier's technological breakthrough in the design of bush vehicles came in the mid-1930s when he developed a drive system that revolutionized travel in snow and swampy conditions. In 1937, Bombardier sold 12 snowmobiles&mdash;named the B7 and, in 1942, created l'Auto-Neige Bombardier Limitée company. The first snowmobiles were large, multi-passenger vehicles designed to help people get around during the long winter months. Snowmobiles were used in rural Quebec to take children to school, carry freight, deliver mail, and as ambulances. His invention filled a very particular need in the region and soon business was booming. In 1941, Armand opened a large new factory in Valcourt. Then a major setback hit the growing business: the [[World War II|Second World War]] was well underway and the Canadian government issued wartime rationing regulations. Bombardier customers had to prove that snowmobiles were essential to their livelihood in order to buy one. To keep his business going, Armand switched gears and developed vehicles for the military. After the war, Bombardier experienced another setback in his snowmobile business. In 1948, the Quebec government passed a law requiring all highways and local roads to be cleared of snow; Bombardier company's sales fell by nearly half in one year. Armand Bombardier therefore decided to diversify his business, first by producing tracked snow-plows sized specifically for use on municipal sidewalks, then by making all-terrain vehicles for the mining, oil and forestry industries. Of note, the machines had removable front skis that could be replaced with front wheels for use on paved or hard surfaces thus providing greater utility to his large snowmobiles. Production of these machines evolved over time. During 1951, the wooden bodies were replaced with sheet steel and these vehicles were powered by [[Chrysler]] flat head six cylinder engines and 3 speed standard transmissions. In the 1960s, V-8 engines began to appear and during the 1969/70 production years, the standard round "porthole"-style windows were replaced with larger rectangular windows which allowed more interior light and made them less claustrophobic feeling. Following these changes came the switchover to more reliable [[Chrysler]] Industrial 318 engines with the automatic Loadflite transmissions. Production of these machines continued into the mid-1970s. Bombardier dreamed of developing a fast, lightweight snowmobile that could carry one or two people. In the early 1950s, Armand set aside his dream to focus on developing his company's other tracked vehicles. But by the end of the decade, smaller, more efficient engines had been developed and were starting to come on the market. Bombardier resumed his efforts to build a "miniature" snowmobile. He worked alongside his eldest son Germain, who shared his father's mechanical talents. Armand and Germain developed several prototypes of the lightweight snowmobile and finally, the first Bombardier snowmobile went on sale in 1959.[[Image:BR100+sidea.jpg|thumb|right|Bombardier BR100+ Groomer, mid engine, hard cab model]] The [[snowmobile|Ski-doo]] was originally called the "Ski-Dog" because Bombardier meant it to be a practical vehicle to replace the dogsled for hunters and trappers. By an accident, a painter misinterpreted the name and painted "Ski-Doo" on the first prototype. {{Fact|date=June 2008}} The public soon discovered that speedy vehicles that can zoom over snow were a lot of fun. Suddenly a new winter sport was born, centred in Quebec. In the first year, Bombardier sold 225 Ski-Doos; four years later, 8,210 were sold. But Armand was reluctant to focus too much on the Ski-Doo and move resources away from his all-terrain vehicles. He vividly remembered his earlier business setbacks that forced him to diversify. Armand slowed down promotion of the Ski-Doo line to prevent it from dominating the other company products but still dominate the entire snowmobile industry. The snowmobiles produced were of exceptional quality and performance, earning a better reputation than the rival [[Polaris Industries|Polaris]] and [[Arctic Cat]] brand of motosleds. In 1975 Bombardier completed the purchase of the [[Moto-Ski]] company. On [[18 February]] [[1964]], J. Armand Bombardier died of cancer at age 56. He left behind a thriving business, but also one that had been focused on one person. Armand dominated his company, overseeing all areas of operation. He controlled the small research department, making all the drawings himself. By the time of his death sales of the company had reached [[Canadian dollar|C$]]20 [[million]], which is the equivalent of C$160 million in 2004 dollars. The younger generation took over, led by Armand's sons and sons-in-law. The young team reorganized and decentralized the company, adopting modern business tactics. The company adopted the latest technological innovation&mdash;the computer&mdash;to handle inventory, accounts and billing. Distribution networks were improved and increased, and an incentive program was developed for sales staff. In 1967, L'Auto-Neige Bombardier Limitée was renamed '''Bombardier Limited''' and on [[January 23]], [[1969]], the company went public, listing on the [[Montreal Exchange|Montreal]] and [[Toronto Stock Exchange|Toronto]] [[stock exchange]]s. [[Image:Delta Bombardier 20071027.jpg|thumb|right| A Bombardier [[Canadair Regional Jet]] in [[Delta Airlines|Delta]] livery]] ===Aerospace=== {{main|Bombardier Aerospace}} In 1986 <ref>[http://www.projectnorthstar.ca/northstarprimer/ch03s01.html Project North Star Restoration Primer - Sec. 3.1 Canadair]</ref>, Bombardier acquired [[Canadair]] after the Canadian government-owned aircraft manufacturing company had recorded the largest corporate loss in Canadian business history. <!-- and then what?-->Under the management of [[Laurent Beaudoin]], Armand's son-in-law, Bombardier took over Canadair to form [[Bombardier Aerospace]]. Shortly after, [[de Havilland Canada]] from Boeing, the bankrupt [[Short Brothers]] and [[Learjet]] operations were added. The aerospace arm now accounts for over half of the company's revenue. Bombardier's most popular aircraft currently include its [[Dash 8]] and [[CRJ]] lines of [[regional airliner]]s. It also manufactures the [[CL-415]] amphibious water-bomber and the [[Bombardier Challenger 600|Challenger]] business jet. [[Learjet]] continues to operate as a subsidiary of Bombardier and manufactures jets under the Learjet name. Bombardier had been in discussions with [[Kansas City, Missouri]] for a $375 Million dollar assembly plant, for its future [[Bombardier CSeries|Cseries]] aircraft, which Bombardier is marketing as a replacement for aging [[DC-9]], [[MD-80]] and early, smaller versions of the [[Boeing 737]]. This new jet competes with the [[Boeing 737-600]], [[Airbus A319]] and [[Airbus A320|A320]] and [[Embraer]] [[Embraer 195|195]]. Bombardier claims the Cseries, which the company will offer in 110-seat and 130-seat versions, will burn at least 20% less fuel per trip than its "nearest" Embraer competitor and achieve "high 20s (percentage) savings" vs. the Boeing 737-600 or -700.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/business/business-airshow-bombardier.html Bombardier Launches CSeries Jet New York Times, July 13, 2008]</ref> Bombardier cites the fact that the U.S. dollar has fallen below the value of the Canadian dollar, thus allowing greater profitability. In addition, Kansas City's prime location in between Wichita and St. Louis, which both cities have a very sizable workforce in the aerospace industry. The proposed building site of the new facility would have been slightly southeast of the 1R runway at Kansas City International Airport. The proposed facility would have created an estimated 2,100 jobs, with aircraft assembly beginning in 2013 and full production reached in 2015 or 2016. Unfortunately for Kansas City, political opposition to this proposal in Canada derailed this plan. On [[July]] 13, [[2008]], Bombardier announced that production of the C-series would be accomplished in the Montreal suburbs.<ref>[http://www.kansascity.com/382/story/703285.html Bombardier rejects KC, will build plant in Canada, Kansas City Star, July 13, 2008]</ref> The launch customer is [[Lufthansa]]; however, the German flag carrier has not actually signed any [[contract]]s to buy the aircraft; it has signed a [[Letter of Intent]] for up to 60 aircraft and 30 options.<ref>[http://www.bombardier.com/en/corporate/media-centre/press-releases/details?docID=0901260d800326db Bombardier Press Release, July 13, 2008]</ref> Great Britain also has reservations against the proposal due to a long standing contract for 1/3 of the aircraft, specifically the wings, to be built in Belfast, Northern Ireland.<ref> http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/545130.html </ref> ===Railway technology=== {{main|Bombardier Transportation}} In 1970, Bombardier acquired the Viennese company Lohner-[[Rotax]], a manufacturer of snowmobile engines and tramways, and thus became involved with [[Rail transport|rail business]]. This section started to gain importance in the mid-1990s in the renaissance of [[tram]]ways or "[[light rail|light-rail transit]]." Bombardier acquired the assets and designs of [[American Locomotive Company]]/[[Montreal Locomotive Works]], which continued in the [[locomotive]] business until 1985. In the Canadian market, they also acquired [[Hawker Siddeley Canada]]’s [[Thunder Bay, Ontario|Thunder Bay]] facilities and [[Urban Transportation Development Corporation|UTDC]] (formerly of [[Kingston, Ontario|Kingston]]). In 2001, Bombardier acquired [[Adtranz]], the developer of the [[British Rail Class 170|Class 170]] Turbostar and Class [[British Rail Class 357|357]]/[[British Rail Class 375|375]]/[[British Rail Class 376|376]]/[[British Rail Class 377|377]] Electrostar trains which are widely used throughout [[Great Britain|Britain]]. They also built the [[Nottingham Express Transit]] trams and parts of [[Alstom]]'s [[Eurostar train]]s. In the UK, ADtranz's major facility was located in Derby. Other major areas of activity of ADtranz were Germany, Sweden and Switzerland with major facilities in Hennigsdorf and Kassel (Germany), Västerås and Kalmar (Sweden), and Zürich and Turgi (Switzerland). Bombardier was one of the companies which took over [[British Rail]]'s R&D facilities after [[Privatisation of British Rail|privatisation]] (the remainder largely being absorbed into [[AEA Technology]] and Alstom). They were part of a major consortium in the construction of the [[Eurotunnel]] railway cars, and also built new [[Rapid transit|subway]] trains for a wide range of customers including the [[Toronto Transit Commission]], the [[Société de transport de Montréal|Commission de transport de la Communauté urbaine de Montréal]], and the [[New York City Transit Authority]] ([[R62A]], [[R142]]), noted for designing the [[Las Vegas Monorail]] system. Bombardier is a [[UK Notified Body]], under The Railways (Interoperability) (Notified Bodies) Regulations 2000, in one TSI area: rolling stock. [[Image:IORE Kiruna.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[IORE]] locomotive]] [[Bombardier Transportation]] also leads the development and production of the [[Acela Express]] train in a 75%&ndash;25% arrangement with Alstom. The train runs between [[Boston, Massachusetts]], [[New York, New York]], [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]] and [[Washington, DC]]. Bombardier provided carbody design and tilting mechanisms from its LRC ("Light Rapid Comfortable") line of passenger trainsets, and integrated a variant of Alstom's [[TGV]] propulsion system. This is the first high-speed rail line in [[North America]], running at a top speed of 240 km/h (150 mph). To meet [[U.S. government]] "Buy American" regulations, final assembly of these trains was carried out at Bombardier's U.S. rail car assembly facility in [[Barre (city), Vermont|Barre, Vermont]]. Bombardier also provided seller-arranged financing to allow [[Amtrak]] to lease the trainsets rather than purchase them outright as the railroad had previously done. Bombardier has also entered into the Australian rail industry with the implementation and maintenance of the main electric propulsion systems for numerous passenger trains and locomotive fleets, and the manufacture of new rolling stock in partnership with EDI Rail. These include Queensland Rail's IMU160, SMU260, IMU200 and SMU220 trainsets, and [[V/Line|V/Line's]] [[VLocity]] [[diesel multiple unit|DMUs]] in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]. There are also Bombardier trains in Perth, Western Australia. These electric trains are powered through overhead catenary. Bombardier made the [[Hiawatha Line]] [[light rail]] cars currently being operated in [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]] by [[Metro Transit (Minnesota)|Metro Transit]]. With the acquisition of [[ADtranz]] in 2001, Bombardier Transportation emerged as the largest manufacturer of railway rolling stock in the world. Depending on how one defines industrial activities, it is sometimes considered the largest in the world in this category. ===Financial Services=== {{main|Bombardier Capital}} Established in 1973, [[Bombardier Capital]] was the financial services arm of global transportation equipment manufacturer [[Bombardier|Bombardier, Inc]]. An international supplier of financial solutions, the company provided lending, leasing, asset-management services and inventory financing for U.S. and Canadian dealers and manufacturers of marine products, recreational products and vehicles, manufactured housing, aircraft, rail cars, and other industrial equipment. Bombardier Capital, headquartered in [[Jacksonville, Florida]] employed more than 1,000 people in the United States and Canada and served customers throughout North and South America. The division closed in 2006. ===Other interests=== Bombardier was, until recently, a major [[Canada|Canadian]] [[defense contractor]]. With the latest restructuring, the company sold off nearly all of its military related work in Canada. Military Aviation Services was sold to [[SPAR Aerospace]] and land based defence products made by [[Urban Transportation Development Corporation]] ceased operations as Bombardier moved away from non-aviation defence products. [[Image:oldBombardierlogo.jpg|thumb||left|200px|Old Bombardier [[sprocket]] logo]] On 27 August 2003 - Bombardier, Inc. announced the sale of their Recreation Products unit to the Bombardier family for $875 million<ref>http://www.rbbi.com/company/bomb/bomb.htm</ref>. As part of the deal, BRP retained rights to the sprocket logo, which they subsequently modified. Their [[snowcat]]s and [[snowmobile]]s dated back to the origins of the company; current brands are Ski-Doo and [[Lynx (snowmobile)|Lynx]]. Bombardier Recreational Products has also become well known for their [[Sea-Doo]] [[personal water craft]] division. Bombardier also makes ATVs ([[all terrain vehicle]]s). In 2006, the ATV brand name changed from Bombardier ATV to Can-Am. Can-Am is the old name of the line of dirt bikes it made in the 1980s. Their current product is the [[Can-Am Spyder]]. == Bombardier Museum == [[Image:1951B12a.jpg|thumb|right|1951 Bombardier B12 Snow Bus Snowmobile]] The Bombardier Museum is a large modern museum in [[Valcourt, Quebec]] dedicated to the life of [[Joseph-Armand Bombardier]] and the [[snowmobile]] as well as the industry he helped create. Formally opened in 1971, with substantial renovations in 1990, the museum is professionally curated and features a wide array of Ski-Doos and other industrial designs as well as a selection of related books, booklets and other items of interest to enthusiasts. Also of note at the museum is the original Bombardier garage "factory" that was the genesis of the organization bearing the name. The garage was carefully removed from its original location in [[Valcourt]] and moved to its present site at the museum, which is located blocks away from the huge, present-day [[Bombardier Recreational Products]] factory. ==References== ;Notes {{reflist}} ;Bibliography {{refbegin}} * Descarries, Eric. "Autoneiges Bombardier: Des patenteux perpétuent la tradition." ''La Presse, 13 March 2006.'' * Hadekel, Peter. ''Silent Partners: Taxpayers and the Bankrolling of Bombardier.'' Toronto: Key Porter Books Limited, 2004. ISBN 1-55263-626-7. * MacDonald, Larry.''The Bombardier Story: Planes, Trains and Snowmobiles.'' Toronto: J. Wiley & Sons, 2001. ISBN 0-470-83196-0. {{refend}} ==See also== {{commonscat|Bombardier}} * [[Bombardier Aerospace]] * [[Bombardier Capital]] * [[Bombardier Transportation]] * [[Bombardier Recreational Products]] * [[Arctic Cat]] * [[Antarctic snow cruiser]] * [[Iltis]] * [[Logan Machine Company]] * [[Moto-Ski]] * [[Snowcat]] * [[Sno-Cat]] * [[Snow coach]] * [[Snow grooming]] * [[Snowmobile]]s * [[Snow Trac]] * [[Vintage snowmobiling]] ==External links== *[http://www.museebombardier.com/en/content/jab/jab.htm Bombardier Museum, Official '''J. Armand Bombardier Museum''' Website] *[http://www.northerntracks.com/bombarier.html Northern Tracks, Bombardier Collector's Website] *[http://www.vintagesnowmobiles.50megs.com/MOTO_SKI_HISTORY_MAIN.html Vintage Snowmobiles, Moto-Ski Snowmobile History] *[http://archives.cbc.ca/IDD-1-73-362/politics_economy/bombardier/ CBC Digital Archives - Bombardier: The Snowmobile Legacy] *[http://www.bombardier.com/ Bombardier Company website] *[http://biz.yahoo.com/ic/42/42381.html Yahoo! - Bombardier Inc. Company Profile] *[http://www.vlinecars.com/vloc.htm V/LineCars.com VLocity 160 Page- Comprehensive information on Bombardier's VLocity 160 type diesel multiple unit train made for V/Line, the passenger rail service operator in the state of Victoria, Australia.] *[http://video.images-de-prestige.com/aircrafts.php?com=Bombardier Some videos of Bombardier's aircraft] {{S&P/TSX 60}} [[Category:Tracked vehicles]] [[Category:Snowmobiles]] [[Category:Bombardier| ]] [[Category:S&P/TSX 60 Index]] [[Category:Passenger equipment]] [[Category:Truck manufacturers]] [[Category:Canadian brands]] [[Category:Companies established in 1942]] [[da:Bombardier]] [[de:Bombardier]] [[es:Bombardier]] [[fr:Bombardier Inc.]] [[it:Bombardier]] [[nl:Bombardier]] [[ja:ボンバルディア]] [[no:Bombardier]] [[pt:Bombardier]] [[ru:Bombardier]] [[sk:Bombardier]] [[fi:Bombardier]] [[sv:Bombardier]] [[th:โบมบาร์เดียร์]] [[zh:龐巴迪公司]]